The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-11

years, the young girl whose very occupation
seems the more forlorn, in the striking con-
trast between the flowers she offers and the
boldness of her address.
Forty wears ago, / am told, flowers were sold
on the street only by children, who also ped
died in their season oranges and watercresses;
but now they only form portion Of the great
army OF broken-down women aud forlorn
girls, which. if mustered together, would form
a grim aud saddening spectacle. CuriOnsly
enough. Scotch lassie has yet 10 be found
who would try this way of eking out a living.
Even the direst poverty Will not force them
into what is looked upon AS a degrading street
industry. There are many Irish, and they are
the best Of the class.
THE DRESS
worn by these girls is SO invariably the same
that il might almost be called a uniform. Ii
consists Of a dragged skirt. TO which pieces OF
tattered trimming still adhere. a torn waist, Of
buttons few, and only half hidden by faded
shawl. On the head is slapped. with an at
tempt at jauntiness, a black straw bat, de-
cidedly battered and very much turned up al
one side.
From this straggles an old ostrich feather,
over hair that. 10 put it mildly, is unkempt. This
hair by the way, is screwed up in knot and
stabbed with single hairpin. which does not
prevent the escaping ends from brstling out
defantiy. Big brass earrings and brooch are
the finishing touches Of q toilet in which water
has been sparingiy used aud soap totally ig-
nored. Very rarely Is pretty face 10 be seen
among them. and when nature bad been kind
in the beginning want, weather and exposure
has in the end defeated her intention.
on THE BUsIEsT THoRoUGHFAREs
the police VIII not allow the flower girls on the
pavement. and ] have seen as mary rs five
standing in the road, in row, before the Ok
ford street POsiofiice. They have constantly TO
be on the lookout for fear the vehicles rushing
by viii run over them, but they make no ef-
fort 10 avoid the mud that splashes from the
wheels When the sandwich men file by they
regard each other with a contempt that Is mu-
tuAl. People on the pavement make an effort
10 escape these girls almost as much as the lat
/ ter do the road traffic. and they are difficult
enough 10 escape from. Like all classes Of
street vendors the flower girl becomes wonder
4 fully shrewd in taking the measure OF the
passer-by. A man or woman with a benev0-
1 lent twist OF c0nntenance, simple country
II girl, a young workman, or a timid old
lady, are easy prey. They will sometimes pur-
sue person for couple Of squares, appealing,
demanding and whecding. lie Is Buy a
flower, my lady," or Five beauty roses for a
penny" or "'Ere you are, lady, just fresh (; an
I'm a poor girl" all the time sticking their
flowers directly ia your face. On one occasion,
while in pursuit Of knowledge. ] stopped 10
| buy from one Of a group Of women a bunch Of
daisies. Ia a minute the rest were after me,
and chaos ensued one antique flower girl
tlirusting bunch of roses in my hand and
another taking hold Of me in her aniexty for
fear / should escape. Indeed, as a class. the
London flower girls remind me strongly Of the
cabmen who lie in wait for the unWary when
The steamers land in New York.
THE MOST DEsERvIgG
OF their kind are the older women. who have
been brought up in the business. Many oil
them you find in the city. where they group
themselves round a fountain or statue. and
make up into buttOnholes the flowers they have
bought at Convent Garden in the dawn Of the